Queensland government buys 44 homes in Townsville

The state government has snapped up homes across Townsville for social housing, but the devil is in the details. See if they’re in your suburb.

The state government has spruiked the purchase of 44 homes in Townsville for social housing, but the devil is in the details.

State Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon was criticised this week for a fleeting appearance at a Mackay housing summit, after she left to inspect newly built social housing.

When defending her appearance, Ms Scanlon divulged the government had “purchased homes in regional communities like Townsville”.

When the Bulletin reached out to Ms Scanlon’s office, they said 44 homes had been bought, a mix of detached houses and townhouses across Burdell, Bushland Beach, Cosgrove, Deeragun, Mount Louisa, Mount Low and Shaw.

All were bought under the state’s Housing Investment Fund, and will be managed by the National Affordable Housing Consortium, a not-for-profit social enterprise with an office in Townsville.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon says the state and federal governments have bought 44 Townsville houses. Picture: Liam Kidston

Thirty three of those homes were privately owned, and have tenants in them, which pay rents 20% under the market rate thanks to the federal National Rental Affordability Scheme, which is winding down.

With the feds stepping out, the state has stepped in. Those tenants will either qualify for social housing, and therefore pay rent at 25% of their income, or will keep paying rent at ‘20% under market value’, according to the Department of Housing.

The houses which the governments have bought are in Burdell, Bushland Beach, Cosgrove, Deeragun, Mount Louisa, Mount Low and Shaw.

Ten of the 44 homes were vacant, and will have new tenants from the social housing register, Ms Scanlon said.

“One property in Townsville was recently vacated and will soon be home to a new family in need of housing support,” the Minister said.

An 18-unit social housing complex on Ross River Road, Mundingburra, Townsville. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The other 33, which were already providing affordable housing, will replace the current tenants with people from the social housing waiting list when they move out.

The 44 Townsville homes are separate to 71 projects short-listed for funding under the state government’s Housing Investment Fund.

An as-yet unknown number of those 71 projects are in Townsville.

The $2bn fund gives subsidies and one-off grants to developers, builders, community housing providers, tenancy managers, investors and superannuation funds to develop, finance and operate social and affordable housing.

The government expects to have preferred options for this round of Housing Investment Fund money at the end of the year.

Originally published as Queensland government buys 44 homes in Townsville